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There seems to be little that unites the US in 2023. But whether they think former president Donald Trump is guilty of trying to overturn the 2020 election or a victim of political conspiracy, Americans of all political persuasions are afraid for the state of their democracy.
What state will the country’s system of government – and its perceived legitimacy – be in once Trump’s trials are over? Thomas Gift, Director of the Centre on US Politics at UCL, has identified five stress tests the country is facing that could give us some indication of how much trouble US democracy is really in.
Elsewhere, we learn how to tell if someone has really discovered alien life (when and if that happens). And what did the Egyptian afterlife smell like?
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Rachael Jolley
International Affairs Editor
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Former US president Donald Trump attending a New York court in September 2023.
AP/Alamy
Thomas Gift, UCL
Some people are concerned that US democratic systems are stretched and under threat. An expert looks at the evidence.
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In 2021, scientists thought they had discovered phosphine in the clouds of Venus.
NASA
Peter Vickers, Durham University; Sean McMahon, The University of Edinburgh
Alien hunters should learn from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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Burial ceremonies as depicted in the Book of the Dead of Hunefer.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Claire Isabella Gilmour, University of Bristol
There is often a distinct fragrance of pine or cedar, with some spiciness from cloves, cumin, myrrh, and warm notes from plants, flowers and trees.
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Politics + Society
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Louise Mallinder, Queen's University Belfast
The Troubles ‘legacy and reconciliation’ bill will do little to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
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Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham; Tetyana Malyarenko, National University Odesa Law Academy
Elections to install pro-Moscow puppets in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine should not be taken seriously. Here’s why.
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Adam Page, University of Lincoln
Raac and asbestos in schools show that ‘official’ declarations of safety are not acceptable to families.
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Arts + Culture
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David H. Fleming, University of Stirling
A riveting and insightful portrait of the much-read Trainspotting author, replete with funny stories and memorable anecdotes.
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Business + Economy
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Pattanapong Tiwasing, Keele University
The UK and EU moved in lockstep over edible insect regulation until Brexit, but that has changed in recent years.
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Cities
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Thora Tenbrink, Bangor University
People living in rural areas perceive the threat of climate change to be lower than people in cities.
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Environment
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Shuo Gao, University of Oxford; Eleanor Jane Milner-Gulland, University of Oxford; Joseph William Bull, University of Oxford; Sophus zu Ermgassen, University of Oxford
Developers can make up for natural habitat loss themselves or pay a restoration fee to the government.
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Health
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Deirdre Fitzgerald Hughes, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Eoghan O'Neill, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
The COVID pandemic made flu less severe. But now flu is back with a vengeance and all eyes are on Australia.
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Science + Technology
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Joanna Lindström, Stockholm University
People who lack modesty and have few negative emotions are more likely to back violent actions for a cause.
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Jesús Galindo-Zaldivar, Universidad de Granada
The earthquake was caused by the collision of two tectonic plates.
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Erica Mealy, University of the Sunshine Coast
Google is paving the way to serve you ads based directly on your browsing history, instead of cookies.
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